FIFA gives Rosberg World Cup helmet the red card

Football's world governing body FIFA has stepped in to prevent Nico Rosberg from wearing a helmet featuring a picture of the World Cup trophy for this weekend's German Grand Prix due to copyright grievances.

Rosberg announced on Wednesday he would be wearing a modified helmet for this weekend's race to celebrate Germany's FIFA World Cup final triumph over Argentina on Sunday, a German flag with the World Cup trophy on top with four stars to commemorate each of Die Mannschaft's victories. But it has emerged Rosberg's new lid design was in violation of FIFA image rights preventing anyone from showing the trophy.

When asked about the decision in Thursday's press conference, Rosberg said: "It's amazing that even a trophy has a trademark. I was surprised but of course I understand. It's a pity because the helmet looked really cool with the trophy on top. It's been replaced by a big star. No one can take that away. The star belongs to us!''

Rosberg's manager Georg Nolte confirmed the helmet had be re-designed, ditching the World Cup trophy image but retaining the four stars to mark Germany's triumphs in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014.

Nico Rosberg tweeted the original design to his followers on Wednesday: